Star of the Sea, Castlebay, The Isle of Barra. HS9 5XD.
Phone 01871 810267
Email Addres castlebay@rcdai.org.uk

Bhileag 12th August 2018

Death of Fr. Peter Banyard: it was with great sadness we learnt of the peaceful death of our beloved Fr. Peter Banyard. Fr. Peter passed away peacefully in the Jesuit residence in Garnethill in Glasgow in the early hours of Tuesday 7th August. Fr. Peter for over 50 years faithfully came to Vatersay and looked after the Spiritual needs of the parishioners there and also on Barra. Three times each year he would travel over- for Christmas, Easter and Summer. Fr. Peter would travel to Vatersay and stay in the chapel house. Sadly over the last couple of years we have seen Fr. Peter get very tired and sadly not being able to travel to Vatersay because of health reasons. Fr. Peter was determined to get up to Vatersay once more which he did in the early days of June. Even though he was tired- he was so happy to be back on Vatersay for a few days. Sadly this was to be his last visit. Fr. Peter’s Requiem Mass takes place on Monday 20th August at 1.00pm in St. Aloysius Church in Garnethill, Glasgow. His remains will be brought into the church the evening before at 6.30pm. Our prayers are for the soul of Fr. Peter- that God may grant him the fullness of eternal life and eternal peace and to all his friends and family we extend our prayers and sympathy. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Holyday of Obligation: this coming Wednesday 15th August is the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady and is a holyday of Obligation. Please note the Mass times above. We treat every Holyday of Obligation as a Sunday therefore we must make every attempt to go to Mass.

Eoligarry Vigil Mass: next Saturday 18th August there will be the extra Vigil Mass in St. Vincent’s in Eoligarry at 4.00pm.

Fr. Emmanuel: will be looking after the parishes while Fr. John Paul is away till this Wednesday.

Lapaich: please note Fr. John Paul will delay the housebound visits till he returns from his holiday. Therefore the housebound will be visited on the week beginning 20th August.

Fr. John MacMillan Mass: next Friday 17th August Fr. John Paul will celebrate a Gaelic Mass in thanksgiving for the life, works and Priesthood of Fr. John MacMillan. The Mass will be at 12 Noon in St. Brendan’s in Craigston. This year a Gaelic book will be published (hopefully for October this year) on the life of Fr. John MacMillan- so it will be a lovely opportunity to remember Fr. John in a special Mass of thanksgiving. After the Mass there will be a walk to the grave of Fr. John in the old graveyard in Borve. Later that day there will be a ceilidh in the Heritage Centre. All Welcome.

St. Brendan’s Church: Fr. John Paul would like to get the outside of Craigston Church painted this Summer. We will hopefully get a group together to look at how best to approach painting the church and possible dates to do it.+

Keeping an eye on our churches: sadly over the last few weeks we seem to have people taking the easy option of deciding to sleep in our churches. This last week in Northbay church we had at least 4 people sleep overnight in the church. It’s one of the lovely things that makes our churches on the island different to the mainland churches because we keep our churches open all day for people to go in and pray at any time. Sadly some people take it too far and it would be a real shame to have to start locking our churches. So please keep an eye out on your local church and make sure that there is no one deciding to camp out in it.